Chakra is a Sanskrit word and it literally means wheel or circle with spokes. The concept of chakras is found in early Hindu and Buddhist texts. Buddhism mentions the existence of only 5 Chakras, whereas Hinduism believes that your body is a house of six or seven Chakras.

Chakras can be defined as vortexes of energy placed along the spinal cord, through which the Universal Energy flows. They are responsible for your physical and emotional well being. They regulate all organ functions, the immune system, and even your emotions. Any blockage, inactivity or over-activity, in even one of the chakras can give rise to illness, pain or mental sickness. According to ancient texts, each of these chakras is connected to particular glands and organs in your body and they ensure their proper functioning.

How to identify if your Chakras are blocked.

If you’re facing any of the following problems, it is an indication that there is a blockage in your Chakras:

• Difficulty in concentration
• Sleep problems
• Stress and pessimism
• Difficulty in expressing emotions
• Lack of motivation and lethargy
• Closing off from relationships
• Not being able to accomplish personal goals.
 
Each problem mentioned above is related to a particular Chakra. Let us identify each Chakra in your body and the problems that can arise due to imbalance in each of them.

1) Root Chakra is represented by a red Lotus with four Petals. It is called “Muladhara” in Sanskrit. It is the most instinctual of all chakras. the primal nature of your survival is to fight, flight or freeze and these three are initiated from the Root chakra. It is located at the base of the spine. It connects us to Mother Earth and hence gives us a feeling of being grounded. Imbalance in this Chakra gives rise to loneliness, depression, anxiety, phobias, and obsessions. Common physical symptoms of an imbalanced Root Chakra are, lower back pain, sciatica, varicose vein, constipation, rectal problems, impotence, pain in lower body, etc. Balance in root Chakra generates the flow of energy to all other Chakras.

2) Sacral Chakra or “Svadisthana ” chakra is represented by a vermilion lotus with six petals. It is located in the coccyx (tail bone), just above the root Chakra and below the navel. It represents the water element leading to the flow of your emotions and thoughts. It is associated with sexual and reproductive issues, urinary problems, kidney dysfunction. Imbalance in the sacral chakra leads to emotional imbalances, fears of impotence, imbalance in decisions related to taking risks, issues in fulfilling desires related to pleasure and sexuality.

3) Third Chakra or the solar plexus is represented by a yellow center, symbolizing the Sun or fire surrounded by 10 petals. It is called the “Manipur Chakra “. It is associated with energy and will power or (iccha shakti). It controls your digestion, endocrine system, the action of movement and eyesight. It is located behind the navel. It gives the power to rise against situations and taking them under control. When it is blocked, it gives rise to disappointments and frustrations, lack and pessimism. To regain self-power and mastery, one needs to balance this Chakra.

4) The fourth chakra is the Heart Chakra. It is represented by a green lotus with 12 petals and two interlaced triangles in the middle. It is located in the middle of the chest. It is associated with the element of air. It balances the Heart, lungs, Thymus gland, arms, and hands. It is associated with Love, generosity, dedication, empathy, compassion, trust, acceptance and forgiveness. It is called “Anahata” in Sanskrit. Anahata is all about love and the flow and exchange of emotional sharing between us and all others. An imbalanced Heart Chakra can cause heart disease, cardiovascular disease, lung and respiratory issues, breast cancer, upper back issues, thymus gland malfunction, at a physical level and anger, hate, resentment, grief, bitterness, loneliness, self-centeredness, lack of compassion, rejection, abandonment, breach of trust, injustice and emotional abuse, at an emotional level.

5) The fifth chakra or the throat chakra is called “Vishuddhi Chakra”. It is represented by a pure blue color. It is situated at the center of the neck, vicinity of the larynx. It rules over the thyroid gland. It is associated with purification and balance. The breath we take, flows through this and spreads further into the body. Vishuddhi means purification of poison, and that can be done by conscious guidance of the breath which removes harmful residues from the body as well as thoughts, emotions, consciousness and subconsciousness. It also governs communication and self-expression, how we understand and how we are understood. Imbalance in this Chakra, can cause thyroid problems at a physical level and fear of speaking out, shyness, confusion, etc at an emotional level.

6) Sixth chakra is the Third Eye Chakra or “Ajna”. It is our connection to the spiritual world. Its colour is Indigo or royal blue which connects us to space and time. It is symbolised by a blue circle with two petals and an inverted triangle inscribed in the middle. It is located in the brain, behind the centre of your eyebrows. It is associated with the pineal gland, which is responsible for biorhythms, like sleep and waking. It can be made more powerful by meditation, yoga and spiritual practices. This is where your personal consciousness transcends into supreme consciousness. Imbalance of this chakra can lead to spiritual rejection, lack of clarity, inability to see the greater picture, headaches, dizziness, eye and sinus problems, confusion and disillusionment.

7) The Crown chakra or the “Sahasrara Chakra ” is the last one. The first chakra (root chakra) connects you to Mother Earth, whereas the Crown chakra is your connection to the universe. It disperses the Universal energy into the other six chakras in your body. It is your gateway to Universal consciousness, enlightenment, unity and self knowledge! It is located at the top of your head. “Sahasrara” means thousand in Sanskrit. It is symbolised by a violet lotus with thousand petals. It is associated with your head, brain, ears, eyes, pineal gland, skeletal and muscular system. Imbalanced Crown chakra can be identified in a person who is suffering from light sensitivity, headaches, dementia, autoimmune disorders and neurological disorders. The person can reflect disorders like depression, loss of faith, epilepsy and even schizophrenia. It can be aligned by chakra healing.

What is Chakra healing?

It is an ancient practice and there are many ways to do it. Chakra healing works towards balancing and alignment of all chakras. Each chakra is as important as another. Chakra healing ensures that energy flow through each chakra is well-balanced, so it can flow freely through your body. An underactive chakra can kick another chakra to become overactive and cause physical and emotional distress. Chakra healing is an effective way of getting rid of this distress. Modalities like Reiki, Theta Healing, Meditation and Yoga can be usesd for Chakra Healing. They are non-invasive modalitities, with no side effects. Under the guidance of a trained Reiki or ThetaHealing Practitioner, very effective results can be seen, in only a few sessions. These modalities can also be learnt by you and followed up with practice. ThetaHealing Workshops train you to learn the modality and incorporate it in your daily life. This can empower you to work on yourself, without dependencies.

Chakra healing can open doors to Universal consciousness for you, and to a healthier, holistic lifestyle.